Caster.



(P. WALLACE.

GASTEB. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1914.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

flame Lug THE NORRIS PETERS CO4. PHOTO-LITHCL, WASHINGTON, D4 C.

ORVILLE G. "WALLACE, OF ROXBURY, OHIO,

CASTER.

mamas.

Application filed April 1, 1

following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

WALLAGE,

This invention relates to certain improvements in casters and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characteremploying a large or main ball adapted to travel on a suitablesupporting surface; and the object of the invention is to provide adevice of this general character having novel and improved means wherebysuch large or main ball is maintained in operative position withconvenience and facility and revolves with a minimum of friction.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved casterwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the device isrendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theappended claim.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, ofa caster constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in GIGXZttlOn of an under surface ofone of the annular members.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an attaching shankor stem adapted to be inserted in the usual manner within the furnitureor the like projecting upwardly from the head or enlargement 2 ofsuitable configuration, and from such head or enlargement 2 project aseries of curved arms 3 extending downwardly from the head orenlargement 2.

he arms 3 are adapted to conform to the periphery of the large or mainball i and are of such a length as to terminate below the horizontalcenter thereof and connected to such arms 3 above and below thehorizontal center of the large or main ball 4 are the Specification ofLetters Patent.

residing at Patented Feb. 2, 11915,,

914. Serial No. 828,854.

annular members or rings 5, the connections 6 between such annularmembers or rings 5 and the arms 3 being of a detachable character sothat the large or main ball 4 may be properly positioned, suchconnections 6 being herein disclosed as in the nature of inwardlydirected headed members loosely disposed through the arms 3 and inthreaded engagement with the annular members 5, as is thought to beclearly shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

In view of the foregoing, it is thought to be obvious that the arms 3and the annular members or rings 5 afford a cage member whicheffectively maintains the main or large ball 4 against displacement yetpermits the same to freely rotate. In order that any resultant frictionmay be reduced to a minimum, I find it of advantage to provide theannular members or rings 5 at points intermediate adjacent arms 3 withthe elongated recesses or pockets 7, each of which being adapted toreceive a plurality of antifriction members 8 herein shown as sphericalbodies, which anti-friction members 8 being constantly in contact withthe periphery of the large or main ball I. I also find it of advantageto have the arms 3 above each of the annular members or rings 5 providedwith a pocket or recess 9 to accommodate additional antifriction members10 also herein disclosed as spherical bodies adapted to engage theperiphery of the large or main ball 4:.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that acaster constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly Welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be asembled and by reason of the effectiveness which it performs itsseveral functions, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without material departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my inventionin practice.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a head provided with anengaging shank, downwardly disposed elongated arcuate arms radiatingfrom said head, said I and below the horizontal center of the main ballin contact with the inner faces of the arms, inwardly disposed headedmembers directed through the arms and the annular members formaintaining the same in operative assemblage, said annular members,intermediate the arms, being provided With elongated circumferentiallydisposed pockets, a plurality of anti-friction members mount- ORVILLE G.WALLACE. Witnesses G. E. MORRIS, D. M. PUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

tWo Witnesses.

